2 ARRESTED IN S.F. RAID ON SUSPECTED ECSTASY DEALERS

In what police called one of the bigger drug raids in San Francisco
history, officers raided two Richmond district apartments yesterday and
seized guns, cash and an estimated $1 million worth of pills believed to be
ecstasy.

Two men were arrested and booked on narcotics and weapons charges.

Acting on an informant's tip, Inspector Toney Chaplin and Officer Paul
Lozada of the gang task force raided apartments at 366 12th Ave. and 551
17th Ave. and arrested Jeffrey Luu, 25, and Benjamin Szeto, 21.

Seized were nine guns, including an assault rifle, and more than 100
plastic baggies full of suspected drugs. Police also found $10,000 in cash
and a currency-counting machine.

A raid on a third residence at 382 Naples St. in the Excelsior district
yielded several more weapons.

"These guys were big," Chaplin said. "You don't get a money counter just
for $10,000. They had a lot of merchandise that they hadn't distributed yet."

Also seized were a bulletproof vest and scores of currency wrappers for
packaging $20 and $100 bills.

Chaplin said the raid was "one of the bigger ones in San Francisco history"
and said the arrests "send a signal to dealers that there's no place to
hide in San Francisco, and you can be taken at any time."